Grassfire in Sunshine Canyon, Wednesday March 1st, 2006
Update: 4:20 p.m.
The Sunshine Canyon grassfire continues to be 75 percent contained, and 100 percent containment is anticipated
by 6 p.m. Mop up of some areas is in progress. Fire crews will monitor the site overnight.
The Emergency Operations Center is now being deactivated. Media questions about this incident can now be
referred to the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office PIO.
Update: 3:50 p.m.
The Sunshine Canyon grassfire is under control and 75 percent contained. All evacuation orders have been lifted
for homes in the region. Individuals may return to their homes.
All Boulder Valley School District children who live west of the 2 mile marker in Sunshine Canyon or in
Pinebrook Hills can be picked up from their home school. They will not be taken to 840 Mapleton. Five other
students from Boulder High School and Casey Middle School were transported to Gold Hill and their parents have been
notified to arrange for pick up.
The cause of the fire is believed to be accidental, but is still under investigation.
Update: 3:30 p.m.
Due to road closures and safety precautions associated with the Sunshine Canyon grassfire, some schools will not
be able to transport students to their homes. Buses will not be running west of the 2 mile marker in Sunshine
Canyon.
Students from Flatirons Elementary and Whittier Elementary School who live in the affected area will be
transported by bus to 840 Mapleton St. to await pickup by parents.
Update: 3:10 Evacuations Mandatory
The voluntary evacuation of Pinebrook Hills is now a mandatory evacuation for the western section of the
subdivision. This includes homes south and west of Linden Drive as it makes its way through the subdivision.
The fire remains at about 5 acres and is not growing substantially. The winds appear to be subsiding and are
forecast to do so throughout the evening.
Update: 2:45 Evacuations order issued
An evacuation order has been issued to 200 homes in the region surrounding a grassfire in the 3300 block of
Sunshine Canyon Drive, including the Seven Hills, western Pinebrook Hills and Saxon Estate subdivisions. Homeowners
are being notified via reverse emergency phone-calls.
An evacuation center has been established at the Boulder County Regional Fire Training Center, 960 Lee Hill
Drive. Two deputies are present.
For more information, call 303-441-4300.
Update: 2:30 p.m.
The Boulder County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) has been activated to support firefighters working on the
Sunshine Canyon fire, which started at about 12:33 p.m. this afternoon. The fire is located near mile marker
3.3 (3300 block) of Sunshine Canyon.
Road closures are as follows: Sunshine Canyon is closed west bound at mile marker 2. The canyon is closed
east bound at mile marker 4. Poorman Road is also closed at Sunshine Canyon. Sunshine Canyon is closed below the
Seven Hills subdivision.
A 911 callback providing information only has been done to about 25 homes in a ¼ mile radius around the 3300
block of Sunshine Canyon. There are recommended evacuations in effect for the Pinebrook Hills, Saxon Estates and
Seven Hills subdivisions. Deputies are going door to door to inform residents in that area. There are about 12
homes that are immediately threatened by the fire and firefighters are defending those homes. An evacuation shelter
is expected to be set up soon.
The fire is estimated to be about 5 acres at this time and was last known to be moving north east.
Agencies on scene include Lefthand Fire, Boulder Rural Fire, Gold Hill Fire, Sunshine Fire, Boulder Wildland Fire, Nederland Fire, Four Mile Fire, Eldorado Springs Fire, Pridemark
Paramedics, Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, and the American Red Cross.
The phone number for the media to contact the EOC is (303) 441-4379.
Wednesday March 1st 2006 1 p.m.
BOULDER - At 12:33 p.m. this afternoon Boulder County dispatch received a call about a small grassfire in
Sunshine Canyon.
The following fire fighting agencies have reported to the scene: Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Lefthand,
Boulder Rural, Pinebrook, Gold Hill, Sunshine, Boulder Wildland Fire Group, Nederland, Pridemark, 4-Mile Fire
Protection, and Eldorado Springs.
The fire is reported to be on less than one acre of grassland surrounding a residence in the 3300 block of
Sunshine Canyon Dr. The residence is located at approximately the 3.3 mile marker on Sunshine Canyon Dr.
The following road closures have been announced:
- Sunshine Canyon Dr. closed between mile marker 3 and 4
- CR 587 at Poorman & Sunshine Canyon Dr.
- CR 568 at 4-Mile marker Sunshine Canyon Dr.
- CR 651 at 2-Mile marker at Sunshine Canyon Dr.
No evacuations have been made, but the Red Cross has been paged and is preparing for any emergency provisions
that might be required. |
